Outdoor Source Magazine

In the northeast, most people look to the coming of winter with a degree of trepidation, anxiety and to an extent, loathing. I’m not one of those people. Last night before I went to bed, I looked out the window into the yard and my non-existent lawn had a beautiful sheet of white on top. I wanted to make sure that I got a great sleep so that I could bring the dog outside to play as early as possible.

My dog just turned 1 this past Thursday. Last winter we really didn’t have snow to speak of so this was going to be her first snow fall and I couldn’t wait to see what she did. At first, she didn’t know what to make of the little white stuff falling on her back but being a doxie, she wasn’t too crazy about it. After a while, she started to run around and dig her nose into the snow. Between snorts from filling her nose with wet snow, she’d run and romp around on everyone’s lawn. It was great fun.

Last week I was getting all excited about getting out into the woods during my favorite time of the year (for the woods), fall. As I began making plans for the coming long weekend (Labor Day), i was reminded that there are potential issues with getting into the woods in the late summer and fall, particularly if you’re looking at mountainous regions. Here’s a couple of things to keep in mind to make sure that you have a good experience:

If you’re sleeping outside, make sure that your sleeping bag is going to be warm enough. If your sleeping bag is not rated to be able to deal with cold enough temperatures you can either go get a better bag or you can double them up. Putting on additional clothing might not actually keep you warmer (just the oposite).

Watch the weather forecasts. Mountains contain very irratic weather and can create some very unexpected situations. Last night (August 20th), Lake Placid NY went down to 30 degrees. That’s 10 degrees colder than the forecast called for and about 20 degrees colder than my wife would be able to deal with. There’s nothing like shivering to really kill a fun trip.

Keep an eye out for bears. As fall approaches, they’re trying to finish fattening up for the coming winter siesta so they are out eating almost all the time (close to 20 hours a day). Don’t sleep with any food near your tent (if you’re tenting). Keeping it in the car could even cause your car to get torn apart.

Finally - stay dry. As the temperature dips to highs in the 50s or 60s you have to treat you getting wet to be a big problem. If you can help it, don’t wear cotton. Cottom retains water and if it’s right on your skin you could run into problems as the sun goes down.

These are just a few things to keep in mind if you’re heading into the woods as the weather cools. Planning ahead can help keep a fun time fun and safe.

Once the middle of August hits and we get that week of rainy and raw weather (at least in the Northeast) I start to think about a fall expedition/hike into the woods. Every year around my birthday (end of September), I love to pack up a few things and hit the trail.

Think about it. The fall is absolutely perfect for both hiking and backpacking. First off, the weather is just prime for it. The evenings (and even the days) begin to get a little cooler. The cooler evenings I find to be just perfect sleeping weather. After a day of being on the trail, then a short rest with dinner, I’ll walk another mile or so to get away from the smell of my dinner. Once I make my camp for the evening I can’t wait to hit the sleeping bag for a nice cool sleep.

Another benefit of fall hiking is that the majority of the summer bugs have signed out for the year. I’m one of those people that opens the door and gets bitten by something. It really prevents me from getting out more often.

Yet another benefit is probably the most obvious - School started. Most people have finished up their vacations for the year while Mom and Dad are getting their kids back to school, the start of the soccer season really curbs the overall attendance in most places.

Finally, particularly in the hardwood forests in the northeast, we’ve got the changing of the colors. Since foliage changes at different times during the year, you’ll need to find links to your particular area so that you know when it’s best to get out there. Here are a few links that I’d like to offer up:

• http://www.weather.com/maps/activity/fallfoliage/uscurrentfallfoliage_large.html
• http://www.maine.gov/doc/foliage/


• http://phototravel.com/fall.htm

To summarize, fall is a GREAT time to head into the woods for either a day hike or a short backpacking trip. Cooler weather, less insects, less people and interesting colors can make for a wonderful time. The only issue that you need to keep an eye on is the weather. Fall is the transition season so dress for success.

Well the other week when I headed into the woods, I had some nice success with the camera. Over the last year or 3, I’ve been having a tough time getting out due to business requirements, but when I get out and get shots like this, it’s all worth it.

The photo below is Kaaterskill Falls. These falls are a very short easy walk in from the road up in the northern Catskills. The falls are a total of about 260 feet in 2 stages. I took this shot with my Canon Digital Rebel (a few photogs were convinced that it was film). The walk is right off NY 23A about 3 miles from Pallenville, NY. Right along the road is another set of waterfalls called Bastion Falls. If you’re a waterfall fan (like I am), this under 1 hour round trip walk is definitely worth checking out. There’s a parking lot that can accomodate about 10 cars about a quarter mile from the trail head. [Be careful around the trailhead, the road is really crazy right there.]

For more information check out http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/kaaterskill_0000.asp

Just like boots need to be broken in to avoid injury (and serious pain from rubbing and blisters), you need to learn how to walk with a backpack.

Rule #1 about walking in a group (even a small group) is for you to stick together. It is very easy, particularly in a very rugged area, for someone to fall behind and potentially not be able to continue on. This situation can become very dicey because the straggler could get lost and the ‘not lost’ party could get injured looking while in a frenzied search for the straggler.

Keep a strong walker both in the front and in the rear to make sure that the less able (or weaker) walkers dont fall behind.

When walking with a pack:

• When you are walking uphill, it’s important for you to take very short steps, then place your feet on the ground prior to pushing yourself up.
• When walking downhill, again, take short steps and move steadily. As you are moving downhill, lean backward to take strain off your knees. DO NOT POINT YOUR TOES AS YOU STRETCH DOWN, you can very easily hyper-extend your knee. I’ve done this several times (usually playing basketball) and it is extremely painful.
• For steep or soft slopes, climb down with your feet placed sideways and use a walking stick for extra support.

Personally, I’ve never backpacked and haven’t hiked in 15 years without walking sticks. It actually takes a little practice for you to use them, but for the added stability on the walk and the added peace of mind, it’s well worth learning to use them.

Captain Obvious Alert: You should always pick a tent that is suitable for your expected conditions.

For backpacking you will obviously want to go as light as possible since you’re lugging your shelter along with you. You’ll need to make a tradeoff between peace of mind and weight. My basic recommendation is that if you don’t really need a tent, dont bring one — bring a bivvy bag if you can. A bivvy bag is essentially a tent for your head with a waterproof bag for your sleeping bag.

If you ARE going to bring a tent, here’s the breakdown of types:

• Ridge Tent. This is the classic pup tent. It’s a waterproof bottom with a ventilated inner tent with a rain fly. You can use these tents pretty much anywhere in almost any condition.



• Dome Tent. Ideal for high wind situations and less cramped than a ridge tent.



• Single Hooped Tent. This lightweight tent provides ample living space, easy to set up and its sloping design helps deflect oncoming winds.

Finally - the image below illustrates the Bivvy Bag.

For those of you that are athletes out there, cramps can almost get to be a way of life. When you’re out running, the cramp that you get on your side is almost enough to cripple you.

When you’re out hiking more often than not you can get a cramp down in your calf — these hurt like the blazes. A cramp is a sudden, involuntary and painful muscle spasm. There’s 2 things that cause them:

• Heavy exercise
• loss of salt through excessive sweating such as in heat exhaustion

To relieve cramps in your calves and thighs, straighten out your leg so that your knee is not bent. If the cramp is in the FRONT of your muscle then bend your knee. Essentially what you are trying to do is make the muscle as long as it can possibly get. If you get the cramp back in your calf not only should you straighten your knee but you should also point your toes up.

In all cases, you should massage the affected area so that you can get the muscle to relax. Also, it’s a good idea to get some fluids into you — sports drinks are great or in a pinch water. The issue with water is that yes it helps to hydrate you, but it can just sometimes pass right through your body and not get absorbed by your tissues.

Drinking water purification.

There is probably NOTHING more life threatening than getting a severe illness while out in the wilderness. Water bourne illness can sap you of strength and can dehydrate you, both of which can prevent you from getting out of the woods safely.

Out in the wild, water is almost never pure and MUST be purified before drinking it. When you’re out on a 2 night backpack trip the chance that you will be able to carry enough water to get you through a 3 day/2 night tip is pretty low. Even if water in a stream looks really clean, it will probably contain some microorganisms or parasites that can make you extremely ill almost immediately. [yes, be very very afraid.]

ALWAYS filter water to remove particles of silt and other contaminants. We like the Katadyn set of filters, but anything in this price range (not cheap) will do a great job of filtering out over 99% of the ’stuff’ in the water. Don’t try to cut corners with these systems because you’re really playing with life and death here. These filters are not foolproof (thus only 99%), so you DO need to take additional steps.

Step 2 –> sterilize the water. We recommend that you use sterilization tablets. Yes, they make the water taste a bit like pool water, but believe me, you don’t want to get sick. After filtering the water, you put tablets (according to instructions) into the water and let the tablets dissolve for at least an hour (again, follow the instructions).

IF you still have any doubts about the water, boil it. The last time I was out on an overnight I:

• Filtered the water
• Used sterilization tables
• Boiled the water

just to make certain that I wouldn’t get sick. To cool off the boiled water, I put the water back into my water bottles and then put the bottom of the bottles into the stream that I was using for the water. This allowed me to cool the water off before heading out the next morning.

This does sound like an involved process, but waterbourne illnesses like Leptospirosis (from animal urine), Schistosomiasis (freshwater worm), Amebic Dysentery (from infected sewage), Hookworms and Giardiasis are NOT to be taken lightly. At one time, I did have some illness like this where I had symptoms similar to amebic dysentery (diarrhea with blook and an infected colon) and believe me, the pain and the misery for nearly 2 weeks is barely endurable. [no, i did NOT get this from water, i actually got this, along with about 20 other people in my town, from a local restaurant that has since been shut down.]

If you find any ticks you need to remove them as soon as possible. A few things regarding removal of ticks:

- Crawling ticks can be easily removed by hand. They will not bite.

- Attached ticks may be removed with fingers shielded by a paper towel or tissue or by grasping firmly with tweezers crosswise as CLOSE TO THE JOINT OF ATTACHMENT as possible. Pull the tick steadily outward without twisting or jerking so that the mouth parts, which are imbedded in the skin, do not break off.

- If the mouth parts of the tick DO break off, consult your physician.

- Do not kill the tick while it is still attached to the skin (if you can). Dispose of the tick by dropping into alcohol or flushing it down the toilet.

- Apply antiseptic to the site of the bite.

Be alert for any symptoms which may appear after the bite (between 2 and 12 days). Symptoms may include: an expanding red ring around the bite; fever and headache followed by a generalized skin rash; chills; sore at the site of the bite; swollen, painful lymph nodes. If any of these symptoms occur, consult your physician immediately.

For further information on some of the diseases these nasty things carry, please consult WebMD at the links below:

Rocky Mountain Fever

Lyme Disease

Tularemia

Babesiosis

I don’t know how things are in the rest of the country, but up in the Northeast if you want to go outside and be near trees, you have to worry about ticks.

There are a couple of different types of tick that you need to be aware of. First, the American Dog Tick.

The female is dark reddish brown with a crescent shaped, light colored plate near the front of the body. The male is completely covered by a plate that is mottled in appearance (see the images below).

The American Dog Tick is commonly found on medium height grasses and shrubs on the leeward side of sand dunes, brushy or overgrown fields and open areas in or adjacent to woodland groves. This tick carries Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

The Black Legged Tick is also known as the Deer Tick. This is the one that’s been making the most news over the last several years. The Deer Tick is common in areas containing woodlands inhabited by deer but can be found in other areas as well. The Deer Tick is known to carry Lyme Disease, Babesiosis and Tularomia.

The female has a reddish body with dark brown legs, a dorsal plate and mouth parts. The male is primarily dark brown in color (and is smaller than the female). The image below is the female Black Legged Tick.

Keep in mind that not all ticks are capable of carrying and transmitting the diseases they are known for. They can carry additional microorganisms that can cause serious illness and even death in humans, so being carefull and doing a thorough search of your body is critical. Ticks climb (usually from 6 inches to 2 feet) on vegetation and wait near the end of a twig or blade of grass. When a person or animal brushes against the plant, the tick transfers from the plant to the person or animal.

Here are some precautions:

• Apply insect repellent, particularly to clothing from the waist down
• Stick to the center of trails where possible to avoid brushing against plants
• Light colored clothing makes it easier to spot ticks.
• Tuck your pants into your boots or socks and your shirt into your pants. You’ll look like a dork but they won’t bite you where you can’t see them (at least in public).
• Check clothing constantly while working or walking in areas inhabited by ticks. Check exposed body areas and clothing again after you leave the area and make sure you check your unexposed areas before retiring at night.
• Ticks usually crawl on clothing in an upward direction until they find a site on the skin for attachment. Common places for ticks to attach are the back of the neck, the scalp, behind the knees, arm pits and in the groin area.